The United States is endeavouring to expand its merchant fleet significantly. What are the geopolitical and economic goals behind this move – and what role does maritime sovereignty play for Washington in an increasingly unstable world order?
Scott Woodard: The United States recognises that a weakened maritime industrial base undermines national security and economic resilience. The expansion of the U.S. merchant fleet is a strategic response to decades of neglect and is designed to ensure that we can project our power, secure key trade routes, and reduce our dependence on foreign-flagged ships, especially in times of crisis. Rebuilding the U.S. maritime industrial base will create jobs, spur economic growth, and ensure the competitiveness of U.S.-flag vessels in international trade.
Overall, maritime sovereignty is central to U.S. policy. A robust domestic fleet ensures that the United States can maintain freedom of navigation, counter coercive measures by adversaries, and maintain its leadership in the maritime domain.
The USA’s current trade policy focuses on import duties and port fees for ships built in China. What specific impact do you expect this to have on international freight transport and global maritime trade?
Scott Woodard: The administration has established a clear “America First” trade policy aimed at promoting investment, productivity and national security while benefiting American workers and businesses. Import tariffs and port charges are designed to incentivise investment in US shipbuilding and logistics infrastructure. In the long run, this will strengthen the resilience of global supply chains by diversifying production away from overly concentrated sources in China.
There are concerns that such measures could also have a negative impact on transatlantic trade. How is your government addressing these concerns – particularly with regard to partners like Germany?
Scott Woodard: Both the United States and Germany benefit from a secure and competitive maritime industry. Through coordinated efforts, we can strengthen the resilience of global supply chains and counter China’s unfair practices that threaten the stability of international trade.
In January 2025, the Office of the US Trade Representative published a report on China’s efforts to dominate the maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors. It sheds light on China’s egregious policies and practices to dominate the maritime transport sector since the turn of the millennium. I strongly recommend that our German partners read this report.
Report on China’s Targeting of the Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Sectors for Dominance
In view of growing geopolitical risks, merchant shipping is becoming increasingly important from a security policy perspective. How important is it to the strategic resilience of the United States – and how will this role be secured?
Scott Woodard: A robust commercial shipping sector is essential to maintaining strategic autonomy, deterring aggression, and ensuring that the United States can respond effectively to global challenges. In the executive order issued in April to “Restore America’s Maritime Dominance,” the Administration laid out the steps we are taking to revitalise our commercial shipping sector, including a Maritime Action Plan to ensure we can meet our economic and defence needs.
In the face of global tensions, how can the United States and Germany work together to ensure stable, secure and competitive maritime trade routes – politically, economically and militarily?
Scott Woodard: The United States and Germany can work together by coordinating their maritime trade policies to counter China’s dominance in this sector. In addition, the United States and Germany need to build a balanced relationship – politically, economically and militarily – to counter adversaries on the world’s oceans. This includes China’s dominance in shipping and ports, hybrid warfare, and direct threats in the Red Sea.
